New York, Aug 4 (IANS): Oil prices plunged as the market expected crude production from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to hit a high in July.
In June, OPEC production increased by 283,000 barrels per day to 31.38 million barrels per day, a three-year high, according to OPEC monthly oil market report on Monday.
Traders also anticipated more Iran crude would come to the already well-supplied oil market as the sanctions are lifted, reported Xinhua news agency.
US oil companies added more oil rigs this week despite the collapse in crude prices, marking the second straight week of an up-tick in the rig count.
Data showed a weekly rise of five in the number of active US oil drilling rigs to 664, according to oil services company Baker Hughes' Friday report.
The west Texas intermediate for September delivery moved down $1.95 to settle at $45.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent crude for September delivery decreased $2.69 to close at $49.52 a barrel on the London ICE Future Exchange.